hoffman



(No Model.)

` R. 4J. HOFFMAN.

LUBRIGATOR.

No. 288,434.. l,Patenfed Nov, 13, 1883.

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Unrfrnn Srnrns PATENT Ormea.

ROSS J. HOFFMAN, OF lBINGHAMTON, NEWT YORK.

LUBRICATOR.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,434, dated November 13, 1883. l V Application filed April 10, 1883. (No model.) l

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Ross J. HOFFMAN, of Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lubricators, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to lubricators of that class in which the steam is conducted into the oil-cup, and by condensation displaces the oil and causes it'to flow into the steam-pipe, where it is taken by the steam and carried. to the parts to be lubricated. I have shown the invention as applied to the form of lubricator shown in Letters Patent of the United States, granted me on the Zdday of May, 1882.

i The object of myvinvention is to more accurately and easily adj ust the apparatus to receive the-proper amount of steam, and, further, to lock or secure the apparatus when once set, so that the proper flow of steam shall be maintained without interference from'unauthorized or unskillful persons.

My invention consists of an adj ustable tube or mouth-piece extending into the steam-pipe or other source, forming a connection thereby between the said pipe and the oil-cup, and being capable of turning, whereby the mouth of the pipe may be exposed in a greater or less degree to the current of the steam; and, further, in a construction whereby the pipe, when once set, is secure from the tampering of unauthorized persons.

In the drawings, `Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the lubricator, connectingshank, and steam-pipe. Fig. 2 is a horizontal Asection ofthe shank on line :v x of Fig. 1, the section not including the steam-pipe.

In the drawings, A shows an oil-cup such as that represented in my aforesaid patent, the details not being essentially different therefrom, except in the matters hereinafter specified. A tube, B, with a stop-cock, has been added below for the purpose of draining the cup.

` C is the shank, by means of which the cup is connected to the steam-pipe D in the ordinary manner. This shank is perforated longitudinally to form the ordinary oil-duct, a, which extends from the interior of the oil-cup and terminates at b in the steam-pip e.

A valve, E, adapted to close the oil-passage,

located at a point, d, in the shank, is of ordinary construction and a like' valve E on the o J oj site side ofthe shank, is located at c, and serves to shut off-thc steam from the cup. Under the present arrangement, however, this valveis required only for the purpose of closing the steampassage and not for the purpose of regulating the flow of steam. The regulation ofthe steam as heretofore done by this valve is difficult, by

reason of thevery iine adjustment required in the size of the orifice. It is difficult by simply turning the threaded shank of the valve to regulate with sufficient accuracy the size of the orifice; and, further, when so regulated,

the steam-passage in the shank is thereby reduced at the point where the valve is located and forms a restricted passage, which is apt to clog, land thus obstruct the work ofthe lubricator. This renders it necessary towatch the lubricator, and when it is thus clogged'to open the valve, so as to clear the obstruction and to again carefully adjust the valve. Another difficultyis found vin practice, that the handles of the ordinary valves being easily accessible, the valves may be opened by unauthorized `and .curious persons who are watching the operation of the lubricator, and thus 'oil be wasted byanexcessive admission of steam. "By the construction hereinafter explained I am able to leave the steam-passage from the steamsource into the lubricator entirely unobstructed, and at the same time I so construct the parts that the opening for the admission of the steam cannot be varied, except by a special key.

or instrument, and thereby the adjusting mechanism is practically locked, and when set cannot be interfered with except by the proper attendant.

The special construction by which I accomplish the result explained is shown in Figs. 1 and 2; The steam-passage through the shank is chambered, as shown at f. From this chamber is a branch, g, in which is located avalve, E', by means of which the steam can be shut off entirely from the cup. The branch g ccmmu-V nicates with the interior oftheA cup by means v of the pipe j, as shown in'Fig. 1; Within the chamber is located vthe adjustable pipe k. This is tted closely in bearings inthe solid part of the stem at both endsof the chamber, and extends into the steam-passage, being turned IOO up, as shown atl in Fig. l, the end which p roy ,2 esame jects into the steam-pipe F being open. Vithin the chamber the pipe 7tis perforated, as shown in Fig. 2. The end m of the pipe k is closed,and is made squareor of other polygonal form. It projects into a cavity, n, which may be conveniently formed by a thimble, a, screwed into the end of the shank. Akey, G, iits into the cavity n and over the end of the pipe 7c, and by this key the pipe may be turned. 'Ihe current of steam is supposed to be in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. It will be obvious that When the mouth l of the pipe k is turned toward the arrow-that is to say, directly and squarely toward the current of steamit will receive the full force ofthe steam and an amount of the current equal to the entire area of the mouth; but when the pipe is given va quarter-turn, so as to bring the end of the tube or edges of the mouth in line parallel with the direction of the current of steam, the steam will be driven past the mouth and will not be .forced into the steam-passage. Of course the tube may be further turned in this direction with the same effect until it is brought around on the other side. The amount of steam received by the mouth of the tube will of course depend upon its position between the points indicated-that is to say, ii' it be turned from the position shown in Fig. l,where its mouth meets squarely the current of steam, to an inclined position, it will receive less steam, and the amount will diminish in proportion to the deiiection from the position shown until it reach es a quarter-turn, when it will cease altogether, as before explained.

The special form of the end Z is 'not essential, only in this respect, that the opening be capable of being turned squarelykto the current, or at any degree of inclination therefrom.

In adjusting the apparatus the operator can insert the key, as heretofore explained, and, the valves E E beingwide open, may tuin the pipe 7c until he observes the proper amount of feed. He can then withdraw the key and leave the apparatus to its ordinary operation.

The same effect as that above described may be accomplished by sliding the tube 7c lengthwise, so as to cause the part of the tube containing the mouth to emerge from the bearing in the shank farther and farther into the steampipe. This would require longitudinal movement of the tube, and While it would operate would not be as effective under all circumstances.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with a lubricator of the class described,a steam-supply tube communicating with the interior ofthe lubricator, and a steam-pipe or steam-source, the said tube having an opening in the steampipe, and being adapted to be moved in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. In combination with a lubricator ofthe class described, a tube forming communication between the interior of the steam-pipe and the lubricator-cup, adapted to turn to present its opening at different angles to the current of steam, said tube having a projecting endwith'- in a cavity, and adapted to be turned by a key, substantially as described. p

3. In the -described connection with the l'ubricator-cup and the steam-source, the shank C, having the oil-passage and chamber f, turning pipe 7c, communicating with chamber, branch pipe g, and valve E', substantially as described.

4. In combination with the shank C of the cup, and with the turning pipe and itsl communications, the thimble o, adapted to receive the key G, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to (this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

R. J. HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

F. L. MIDDLETON, DAVID H. MEAD. 

